'To finish fourth is a crime' - Tim Howard calls for USMNT redemption at 2025 Gold Cup after 'abysmal showing' in Nations League

Tim Howard, the legendary USMNT goalkeeper, called for the U.S. men's national team to win the 2025 Gold Cup to make amends for their "abysmal showing" in the recent CONCACAF Nations League.

On the "Unfiltered Soccer" podcast, Howard and Landon Donovan discussed the USMNT's back-to-back losses to Panama and Canada, and Howard hit out at the players. The former Manchester United star also noted that ex-USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter was replaced by Mauricio Pochettino because of poor performances.

“This group of players got a manager sacked, lost in the last four to Panama and have had an abysmal showing in the Nations League - abysmal," Howard said. "To finish fourth is a crime. And by the way, any of the current players get upset with me, I’ve gotten coaches sacked as well. I’ve been a part of groups where you don’t perform well enough, the team doesn’t perform well enough and you get your coaches sacked and it sucks."

“I tell you what, if you thought all eyes were going to be on the Gold Cup, by god, they have to win. They have to win the Gold Cup. I don’t know. After the Gold Cup’s over, there’s no more competitive games prior to the 2026 World Cup. Does anybody understand that? I know there ARE friendlies, and by the way this group is going, they’re not going to all be together,” Howard said on the podcast. “There’ll be certain guys pulling out and that’s OK, it happens. But guess what? You’ve run out of time, so unless the entire group is together and wins the Gold Cup, I’m worried.”

The USMNT's recent struggles, coming on the heels of their early exit from the 2024 Copa America, have raised questions about the team's progress. The USMNT had won all three previous versions of the Nations League.

Following their fourth-place finish in the Nations League, the USMNT will now come together just before the Gold Cup. The 2025 iteration of the tournament takes place from June 14 to July 6, but before that, the USMNT will face Turkey and Switzerland on June 7 and 10, respectively.